Mail chute



` l Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED] STATES EATENT QFJFICE "i y 2,263,309` f MAIL CHUTE y Martin Katz, Broeklyn, N; Y; `delineation May 1i, 193s,` seriaiNQ. 207,929

` comms. (01.193148) This invention relates to improvements in mail chutesv of the class described in my Patent No.- l,785,867 ofDwec. 23, 1930, for office buildings and thelike in which letter drops` are provided for the several floors and lead through a common chute to a` receiving box on a lower floor. More speciiically reference is had to chutes in which the front walls thereof are lengthwise provided with removable glass panel sections adapted to be opened up for the relief of thechutes in case of accidental chokages.

The object of the invention is to `provide ornamentall panel frames or sash members in which the glass sections are resiliently clamped within the frames in order to avoid Vbreakage of the glass when the panels are removed and replaced with respect tothe main body of the chute.

A. further object is to provide for the glass a clamping resilience adjustably disposed to afford a more positive connection within the frame.

Alsolto provide in a front panel of each floor a mail drop having a mail receiving slot adapted to be locked in open and closed relation, and to discharge said mail matter from said slot into a passageway formed in said mail drop, and means for controlling the passage .of the mail matter therethrough. e

A further object of the invention includes a cross frame having a front baror strap hinged at one end to a side wall of the cross frame, while the opposite end of the strap is provided with a lock so arranged that the key cannot be removed from the lock` before the Vstrap is se` curely closed. If the strap is not fully and properlyclosed, the key cannot be removed from the lock. v

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to theappended claims in which the various features of the invention are `more particularly set forth. e

Referring to the drawing in which similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views in which:`

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing portions of the front glass receiving panels includ-v ing a mail drop embodying the invention.

e Figure 2 is a vertical sectional side View of the paneled `front wall and the back and side walls of the chute body. l l Figure 3 is a sectional` plan view of the back.

and 4side walls of the chute body connected by sash members to a glass panel and mail drop. l

Figure l` is an enlarged sectional detail view showing means for securing the marginal side edges'of the glass to the paneled frames'or sash members. l

Fig. 5a is a detail view of cross brace, and Fig. 5b is cross section of same.

I figure` is an elevational view of Va pairof Y connection cross braces for securing together the ends of the panel sash members.

Figure 6 is an inside elevationalview of the mail dropfshowing the manner of feed control of mail matterinto the chute. 'e Figure? shows a detached plan view of a cross frame with the front strap closed and indicated in locked condition. e

Figure 8 shows the `strap in side elevational view with its lock end partially broken away t`o clearly show a control member vfixed to the side wall of the. frame for actuating the lock, j

Figure 9 is an inside view of the lock end of the strap, and Figs. 10 and 11 are projected views of the same, partially in section. e

. Fig. 10d shows assembly section of lock relative to Figs. 12, 13 and 14. Figure 12 is a spring actuated element shown in detail for engaging the latch, and Figs. 13 and 14 are projected views from the same.

Numeral I of the drawing indicates generally sash members 6 and 6a, the former being prefer-` ably employed and composed of extrudedmetal having a base portion I adapted to engage the seats 5 of the body of the chute side walls 3. From the base I of the sash members a pair `of resilient clamping arms 6 and 9 are projected and Shaped to respectively engage the outer and inner marginal side faces of the glass section shown generally atV III, the outer opposite arms of the sash members being also provided with an undercut passage II adjacent. said base portion-and extending the length thereof, and nuts I2. provided with flat face flanges I3` disposed to slidingly engage the walls of said underacut pasages and hold the nuts against rotation. For

to the insertion of the panels against the seats. 4 and 5 formed by the side walls 3 of the chute` `The opposite sash members forming the glass.. Jreceiving panels present an attractive appearance as generally shown in Fig. 1, and include a lower panel having a pair of glass sections I6 separated by a mail drop I'I, and an upper panel Vprovided with a single glass section I8, the two panels being jointly connected and locked by a common strap I9. For securing together the opposite sash members at opposite ends of each panel, a pair of similar cross braces 20 and 20a. are shown in full lines in Fig. 5 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the cross braces being shown in detail in Fig. 5a as similar to each other and integrally cast at opposite ends with arms 2I suitably disposed in fixed relation a distance within the hollow ends of the sash members 6 to eiTect a substantial connection therewith.

The mail-drop indicated generally at I'i in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, conventionally secured by means of the interior of the opposite sash members and projecting outwardly therefrom, lis provided with ya mail receiving slot 22 leading into a passageway 23 having end Walls 24 alined with the opposite end Walls of 'the receiving slot, the inner faces of thewalls 24 being shown in dotted lines and forming the inner legs of a pair of angle plates 24a. Within the passageway a guide-plate 25 is pivotally supported at its upper end by a hinge rod 26 carried from the side walls 24. At its lower end the plate 25 is provided with tubular sections 2'! for the reception of a pair of latch bars 28, the latter being folded over upon themselves and bent in T-shape form to provide means for latching the opposite ends of the guideplate to the side wa1ls'24 in the two positions indicated by the full and dotted lines. The plate 251s also provided adjacent its lower marginal end with an outwardly curved serrated section 25a. Within the passageway 23, and pivotally supported from the hinge rod 25 is a valve plate 29 adapted to close and lock the mail receiving slot 22 against the admission of mail matter, the locking means therefore being similar to that above shown and described for the guide-plate 25, Also within the passageway 23 is an inclined i'lxed guide-plate 39 disposed to direct the mail matter from the receiving slot 22 into the vertical chute I, and a similar serrated section 3l is also formed on said guide-plate 30 adjacent the upper marginal edge thereof and bent inwardly to afford obstruction to the flow of foreign matter thereon and adjacently engage the outwardly curved serrated section of plate 25 and cause the stoppage of delivery of foreign matter.

For jointly locking the lower and upper glass receiving panels together, a cross frame is provided as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8, consisting of a back wall 32, a pair of opposite side walls 33 and 34. The back and side walls of the frame are provided with connecting means for enclosing and supporting a section of the conduit body with respect to the house wall inthe usual manner. and the front wall I9 of the cross frame is secured at one end to the side wall 33 by the hinge 35, andat its opposite end to the side wall 34 by means of the lock 35.Y The cross frame is further provided with a controlling plate 31 disposed to serve as a guard for the locking members ofthe frame and for directing the passage of the mail matter through the chute. Fig. 5 of the drawing also shows the sidewalls 33 and 34 of the cross frame in open position with the pair of similar cross braces and 28a connected to the upper and lower glass receiving panels, the braces being each provided with centrally projecting handle members 38 spaced apart for suitable manual adjustments of the panels. In its closed position the hinged` strap I9 of Fig. 1 shows the pair of panel cross braces in dotted lines.

The desired locking means of the glass receiving panels and cf the several controlling features thereof are shown in the enlarged plan views Figs. 10 and 10a, in which a lock 39 is attached to the inside of the hinged strap I9, and the key operated from a lock spindle 35 on the outside of the strap to shift a latch plate 40 in opposite directions. As herein shown in Fig. 10 the inside lock is supported from the base 4I by the screws 42, and a spring plate 43 having a detent 45 is normally urged against the latch 45 by the coil spring 44, in which position the detent extending below the upper face of the latch prevents the sliding or locking action of the latter.

For operating the lock (see Fig. 10a) the strap I9 is inwardly pressed against the body wall 34 of the cross frame, the movement of which causes engagement between the spring plate 43 and the arm 4 8 fixed to the inside of wall 34, which results in the depression of the spring plate against spring action'and causes the detent 45 to recede and allow the lock latch 40 to pass thereover in key operation Guide posts 4'! provide xeld supports within said strap for the relatively loosely mounted spring plate 43 to secure stability ot action thereof, and thus provide means for properly effecting the locking action, and the release of the key. Thus if the strap is not properly adjusted and locked to the body of the cross frame the key cannot be removed from the lock.

K I claim:

1. In combination, a pair of sash rmembers having hollow base portions extending the length thereof, a pair of cross braces provided at opposite ends thereof with right angular extending parallel arms disposed in xed relation within the opposite ends of said hollow base portions.

2. In a glass receiving panel, a pair of sash members each having an outer base portion comprising parallel resilient clamping jaws extending the length of said sash members, the said jaws being inwardly extended and shaped to form a resilientpair of arms to engage the inner and the outer marginal side faces of the glass, a cross brace provided adjacent its opposite ends in fixed yrelation with a pair of downwardly extending arm members, the latter being detachably secured within the upper ends of the parallel clamping jaws of said pair of sash members.

3. In a glass receiving panel, a pair of sash members eachhaving an outer base portion comprising parallel resilient clamping jaws extending the length of said sash members, the said jaws being inwardly extended and shaped'to form a resilient pair of arms to engage the inner and the outer marginal side faces of the glass, a cross brace provided adjacent its opposite ends in xed relation with a pair of upwardly extending arm members, the latter being detachably secured within the lower ends of the parallel clamping jaws of said pair of sash members,

4. In a glass receiving panel, a pair of sash members alined with said glass, each of said pair being provided with an outer base portion comprising parallel resilient clamping jaws extending the length of said sash members, the said jaws being inwardly extended and shaped to form resilientarms engaging the inner and the outer marginal side faces of the glass, cross braces provided at the upper and lower ends of the full panel ,mem-ber, each brace having adjacent its opposite ends a pair of outwardly projecting arm members in xed relation with said sash members.

MARTIN KATZ. 

